When Feedback Isn’t a Gift
I was sitting in a meeting one morning several weeks ago when the topic of feedback arose. I just sat quietly and listened. From all I have heard in my professional career to date, feedback is (and has been) a hot topic and a “breakfast of champions” according to Ken Blanchard. After a few minutes…
How to Be a Leader Outside of the Office
Guest Post by Scott Huntington Learning and exercising the principles of leadership can be a character-building, life-changing experience. Whether seeking to advance at work, start your own business, or carry out social change, a world of opportunities opens up to you the instant you successfully demonstrate to others you have the knowledge and skills to…
How Do You Lead Those Who Are Older Than You?
Guest Post by Scott Savage Ten years ago, I watched a film that I would one day live. The film, In Good Company, starred Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, and Scarlett Johansson. In Good Company tells the story of a middle-age advertising executive (Quaid) whose world is turned upside down when his company is bought out….
Effective Leadership isn’t Essential for an Organization’s Survival
Guest Post by Eddie Coulson There are thousands of organizations across the globe that have mediocre or poor leadership, and many of them survive day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year. These organizations – from schools to software development firms to financial institutions and beyond – simply rely on people getting their work done. Whether an employee is…
5 Lessons on the Road from Intern to Executive Team
Guest Post by Scott Savage I should have died on June 9, 1993. My family was beginning our summer vacation, driving across Northern Arizona on Interstate 40. My dad was driving the car. He was always so tired when we left on vacation. He fell asleep while driving and awoke with a jerk. After over-correcting,…
6 Questions with Daniel Pink: Generations, Career, Leadership
The Leadership Institute at Columbus State University does engaging work to develop leaders and facilitate meaningful change within individuals and organizations. Change is always present, yet the pace of change seems to quicken each year. Later this month, the Leadership Institute at Columbus State University will host its 10th forum – The Jim Blanchard Leadership…
Leading From Behind in the Business World
Guest Post by Andrew Cravenho When we hear the phrase “leading from behind” we tend to associate it with political strategies and the double-speak so ubiquitous from the political class. Generally that is accurate. The concept of leading from behind was practiced by one of the great political figures of our time, Nelson Mandela. In his…
Learning to Lead Inside the Box
For more than twenty years, Victor Prince learned about leadership by doing. He’s worked on and led quite a few teams during his career. Some were wildly successful, and others were less so. But each team provided a valuable lesson. While hiking across Spain during a six-month sabbatical, he realized it would be great to…
5 Foolproof Ways to Effectively Lead Millennials
Let’s be honest… Millennials can be a difficult generation to lead. We’re restless; some might say impatient or entitled. We crave mentorship but hate the idea of being micromanaged. We are extremely passionate about our work but don’t have the same loyalty to organizations we work for as previous generations. The unique characteristics of our…
Do You Lead With a Selfie Stick?
Remember the good old days, back in 2013 before selfie sticks? Remember what it was like if we wanted a picture of ourselves with a beautiful backdrop? Remember when we had to ask for someone else’s help? Sure, selfie sticks are convenient. They encourage self-reliance, individuality, the relinquishing of pride (because clearly if you’re using…
Work Without Bosses, Meetings, or Offices
Guest Post by Cristian Rennella When we launch a new project, we are hardly focused on the organizational structure that we will form in the future. First there is a long list of pressing challenges, from laying out a plan for obtaining new clients and sustained monthly growth to developing a strategy to create new…
Scott Thompson: Creating Company Culture
What do you do when you find yourself in a company culture that doesn’t fit? Even worse, what if the culture is toxic? As an entry-level employee who is just beginning a career, you may choose one of these: A. Suck it up: Be grateful for the paycheck and hope that as you continue to…